David Brierley
Managing Editor
Vesna Brajkovic
Assistant Editor
Stefanie Von Rueden
Assistant Editor
Barry Hoyland
Contributing Editor
The ‘before
and after’ scan
It’s not just for collision repair anymore.
By Sara Scullin, Editor
Sara@VehicleServicePros.com
PTEN Editorial Advisory Board
Technicians
John Harris,
Brooks-Huff Goodyear, Timonium MD
Eric Moore,
DeMary Trucks, Columbus, OH
Lou Fort,
K.A.R.S. Inc., Huntingburg, IN
Shop Owners
Phil Fournier,
Phil's Auto Clinic, Hemet, CA
JD Goad,
Goad's Body Shop, Lexington, VA
Edwin Hazzard,
Southeast Mobile Tech, Goose Creek, SC
Barry Hoyland,
VSSCA, Camarillo, CA
Pete Rudloff,
Pete’s Garage Inc., Newark, DE
Equipment Manufacturers
Chad Schley,
Schley Products/SP Tools
Jim O’Hara,
Clore Automotive
EDITOR'S N OTE
8 PTEN AUGUST 2018 VehicleServicePros.com
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Are you one of the many shop owners
who is intrigued by the idea
of offering customers pre- and
post-scan of their vehicles, but have not yet
implemented this practice? If so, it might
be time to consider how offering pre- and
post-scan reports could affect and even
benefit your business.
WHAT IS PRE- AND
POST-SCAN DATA?
Pre- and post-repair scan data shows the
condition of a vehicle’s computer system(s)
from the time when the car, truck or SUV
rolls into the shop. The practice of providing
these comprehensive details to customers
began a few years ago at the request of
most vehicle insurers to evaluate whether
any underlying conditions could affect
the repair.
Information in these scans includes current
and pending codes, as well as the status
of monitored systems. Such intel can prepare
customers for issues that might arise
in the near future or down the road, and
back up those suggestions with factual data.
Back in March, Hyundai published
a position statement on pre- and postscanning
addressed to the collision industry,
and shared this position statement
with astech.com.
“It is important that Hyundai vehicles
involved in a collision have a pre-repair scan
and post-repair scan so that repairers are
aware of any diagnostic trouble codes that
may be present, regardless if a warning light
or malfunction indicator light is illuminated,”
the statement read. “A pre-repair scan
will alert the repairer to diagnostic trouble
codes or items that may be malfunctioning
within the vehicle. This aids the repairer to
develop more accurate repair estimates prior
to beginning repairs. The post-repair system
scan provides confirmation that systems are
functioning properly and calibrated.”
Although the above is a recommendation
for the collision industry, more repair facilities
are picking up the practice to offer a
better, more comprehensive service to their
customers. Consider the extra assurance
pre- and post-scans provide, backed by data,
as a value-add. Perhaps this is even becoming
an expectation at a time when customers
are accustomed to obtaining comprehensive
information at their fingertips.
In this month’s issue you can learn about
tools available for pre- and post-scans, as
well as suggestions for implementing this
process at your shop, in Barry Hoyland’s
Tool Briefing column on page 38.
Talking an issue through with a customer
before the repair is a proactive, trustbuilding
move. Will you be implementing
pre- and post-scans at your shop?
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